Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Scottish Executive Thursday 17 June

Community Care

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the needs of people with mental incapacity, in relation to managing their own financial affairs.

Iain Gray: Donald Dewar announced yesterday that our legislative programme for this session will include an Incapable Adults Bill, modernising the law in relation to decision making on behalf of people with mental incapacity. The Bill will include a range of new measures for managing their financial affairs and for supervising those who take decisions on their behalf.

Disability Task Force

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish a disability task force to develop a co-ordinated strategy to remove unnecessary barriers preventing people with a disability from enjoying an independent and fulfilled life.

Susan Deacon: The Government set up a Disability Rights Task Force in 1997 to report on how to secure comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people. Their report is expected later this year. One of their early recommendations was to set up a Disability Rights Commission to work towards the elimination of discrimination against disabled people, promote equality of opportunity and good practice, and to advise the Government on the operation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The proposal is for a Commission for Great Britain with an office in Scotland. A Bill is presently before Parliament at Westminster.

Economic Indicators

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the range and number of economic performance indicators published with reference to Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: A future strategy for the development of official Scottish economic statistics was outlined in an article in The Scottish Economic Bulletin, No 56, March 1998 – The Scottish Economy: Official Statistics for the New Millennium.

  The official economic statistics outputs are regularly reviewed and The Scottish Office is currently engaged in an assessment of additional needs resulting from the establishment of the Scottish Parliament.

Education

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of the proposed ending of the European Commission’s scheme which supplies milk at reduced rates to school children (EC 3392/93), what plans does it have to adopt an equivalent scheme.

Ross Finnie: The EU funded School Milk Scheme has been in operation since 1977. My understanding is that the Commission has recently conducted an evaluation of the Scheme, although no proposal for altering or amending it has yet emerged. The UK Government line, which I support, is to press for the continuation of the scheme.

Electoral Fraud

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to investigate allegations that the British National Party has committed electoral fraud in relation to the elections to the European Parliament to be held on 10 June 1999.

Donald Dewar: It is for the returning officers concerned, rather than for Ministers, to decide whether to accept nominations at the European Parliamentary elections, and for the police and prosecuting authorities to investigate whether any criminal offences have been committed.

Enterprise

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to meet business leaders to discuss the promotion of an enterprise agency in Scotland and whether it will consider the development of a co-operative Development Agency in Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: Scotland already has two agencies with the responsibility for promoting and stimulating enterprise within their respective areas, namely Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

  I have already held discussions with a number of business leaders and they are generally supportive of the current structure and activities of the two agencies. Both organisations have strategies which contain clear commitments to assisting new and growing businesses, which may include co-operative ventures, and I intend to work closely with them to ensure that they deliver on our commitment to bring together the promotion of enterprise and lifelong learning.

Fisheries

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to report on funding for salmon farmers facing the crisis caused by the threat of infectious salmon anaemia.

Mr John Home Robertson: The Minister for Rural Affairs and I met representatives of the salmon farming industry on 11 June. Discussion ranged over a number of issues affecting the industry but, inevitably, concentrated on the scope for assistance for those affected by ISA. We made clear that the £9 million offered by the Secretary of State on 8 February remained on the table. We expressed reservations about the industry's insurance proposal which could expose the taxpayer to uncertain liability, but we are still in discussion with the trade associations.

Handguns

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to state its attitude to the ban on handguns.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive strongly supports the legislation which has banned all large and small calibre handguns.

Health

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the provision of acute hospital services at Stracathro Hospital, Angus.

Susan Deacon: I refer Mr Swinney to my reply of 15 June to Mr Ben Wallace.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of revenue funding it intends to allocate to measures to reduce waiting lists in the Scottish National Health Service and what is the likely extent and nature of one-off pilot initiatives which it intends to apply in the current year to address this issue.

Susan Deacon: Annual recurring resources of £44.5 million are being made available to the NHS in Scotland specifically to tackle waiting lists and waiting times.

  Health Boards and NHS Trusts are currently implementing over 190 long-term projects designed to secure sustained reductions in waiting lists and waiting times. These include initiatives to improve the interface between primary and secondary care, to establish one-stop, fast-track and nurse-led clinics, and to re-design service delivery to provide better and faster treatment for patients. Many of the projects will be piloted.

Justice

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for reviewing the criminal justice system in relation to domestic and sexual violence.

Mr Jim Wallace: We must deal effectively with domestic and sexual violence. Expert advice has already been commissioned; and we will review current arrangements when we receive it. For example, the Scottish Partnership on Domestic Violence is developing a strategy on domestic violence; the MacLean Committee is reviewing the sentencing and treatment of serious sexual and violent offenders, who may have personality disorders; and an expert panel chaired by Lady Cosgrove is looking at sex offending and supervision in the community.

Rural Affairs

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what compensatory measures it intends to take, in light of the demise of Rural Forum, to ensure that the views and concerns of individuals and organisations in rural Scotland continue to be highlighted, and their particular interest promoted.

Ross Finnie: Rural Forum offered useful support to a wide range of community and voluntary groups in Scotland. I would like to see that support continue but it is important that, if another body is established, it reflects the needs of these people. I support the suggestion of the main voluntary groups that there now needs to be a period of consultation and my officials are in close touch with those involved to see how the Government can best assist.

Tourism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures does it intend to introduce to promote tourism in the Highlands and Islands.

Henry McLeish: Together with my Ministerial colleagues, Alasdair Morrison and Nicol Stephen, I have had a useful preliminary meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourist Board. We discussed some of the opportunities and challenges that face the tourism industry in the years ahead.

  It is my intention to ask the STB to consult widely and to prepare a new strategy for the industry by around the end of this year. This strategy will identify action that needs to be taken in the Highlands and Islands and elsewhere to ensure that the tourism industry throughout Scotland realises its full potential.

Transport

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to grant powers to local authorities to introduce 20mph speed limits and when it intends that these powers will come into force.

Sarah Boyack: The United Kingdom Government have removed the statutory requirement for local authorities to obtain the Secretary of State’s consent before making 20 mph speed limit orders. The new arrangements came into force on 16 June. Local Authorities now have freedom to introduce 20 mph speed limits and there is, therefore, no need for the Scottish Executive to take any further action.

Young People

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that issues relating to youth will be properly covered by its Ministers and departments.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I will take the lead in ensuring that matters affecting young people are properly co-ordinated, taking careful account of the wide range of issues and bodies involved. A new Children and Young People Group will be created in my Department to support me in that work.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether he will ensure that no further contracts are signed for the Holyrood Building Project until Parliament has considered the matter.

Sir David Steel: I told Members on 9 June 1999 in a statement from the chair that I had issued an instruction for no further works contracts to be signed for the next ten days; that instruction has been adhered to.